The drill to survive
Podcast Episode
Kyle Geissler talks with Janesville Gazette reporter Ann Marie Ames about the Stateline Survive Alive House.
BELOIT TOWNSHIP — Half the third-graders crawled the wrong way.
Even though they had just walked in through the bedroom door, lots of kids crawled to the closet in an attempt to escape the “burning” house.
Even after firefighters and teachers told kids how to roll out of bed and crawl to the door, many kids stood up—right into the imaginary deadly smoke—and wondered what to do.
Granted, the third-graders from Janesville’s Jefferson Elementary were disoriented in the dimly lit bedroom and the “smoky” living room of the Stateline Survive Alive House, 911 Newark Road, Beloit.
But that can happen in any room in any situation—a point that became clear when Larry Hainstock, Janesville Fire Department lead inspector, told kids to pretend they were having a slumber party before they tried to escape from the room.
Even in a child’s familiar home, it’s good to hold fire drills monthly, Hainstock said. Schools are required by law to hold monthly drills, although many more people die in house fires than fires in schools, he said.
“We (families) must continue to practice to make sure we have a consistent evacuation plan and to make sure we have that ingrained so it becomes second nature,” Hainstock said. “Always, as children, we are looking towards our guardians and adult mentors to make sure we’re safe.”
Wednesday was the first fire safety training session by the Janesville Fire Department with Janesville students since Saturday’s fatal fire that claimed the life of one child and seriously injured another.
Derek R.J. Mattingly, 7, was killed Saturday morning in the fire at 327 N. Palm St., Janesville. His little brother, Joey Ashmore, 2, is in critical condition at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, according to a family friend.
Hainstock told The Janesville Gazette earlier this week the fire was accidentally started by the boys’ brother, Owen A.P. Ashmore, 4.
The fatal fire has been “hard on everyone,” Hainstock told a Gazette reporter Wednesday, referring to the department and the Janesville community.
But Hainstock said he didn’t treat Wednesday’s training any differently than the twice-monthly training he conducts. The department invites all Janesville third-grade public and parochial classes to attend trainings, Hainstock said.
Not every school participates, he said.
During the field trip, children watch a movie about fire safety, practice two escape drills, work in a workbook and talk to firefighters about fires and fire safety.
Jefferson third-grade teacher Jennifer Fanning said fire safety training is “huge” in third grade, but Wednesday’s drills were just an “introduction.”
Students will be assigned homework to talk about fire safety with their families, Fanning said.
May 24, 2008 at 12:44 p.m.
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Ok now that the initial shock is over, and people are done giving their opinions.... has anyone heard how Joey is? The paper sucks up the shock value and the story disappears not updating or reporting any good news there may be!
May 16, 2008 at 5:51 p.m.
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looking-foward. I think it is a good time to share this people while a fire that lead to tragedy is still in peoples minds so they get on the ball and get their smoke detectors up and working and enough and know how to get out.
I switched my laundry to upstairs and realized i need another carbon dioxide detector up stairs not just in each basement and while I am there get a fire extinguisher.
May 15, 2008 at 9:17 p.m.
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donations are being accepted 4 the family at 1311 camden sq. its a blue house on the corner of mt. zion n camden if that answers anybodys questions about that since the comments n articles were removed...
thank u all 4 everythin!
May 15, 2008 at 9:17 p.m.
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I agree that this is a great program for our school aged children. I do however disagree with the timing and placement of this article in today's paper. After Saturday's tragedy, I think it was in poor taste for The Gazette to have a picture of a third grade boy "army crawling" out of a doorway with simulated smoke behind him on the front page of the paper today. I will admit that it made me catch my breath and tear up for a moment or two. I just feel that this story could have either waited to have been printed (Derek's services are tomorrow), or the article and pictures could have been placed elsewhere in the paper instead of on the front page.
May 15, 2008 at 7:09 p.m.
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Every summer I take my School Age Child Care Group to the Survive Alive House. The first time our Director went with us and helped the children during the excerise they told about, she was amazed as an ADULT what it was like to try to find her way though the smoke. The next year I helped and totally agreed with her. Everyone should do this just once. It really drives home the importance of everything they tell you to do.
THANK YOU TO THE AREA FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND STAFF THAT MAKE THIS POSSIBLE!!!! EDUCATION SAVES LIVES!!!!
May 15, 2008 at 4:08 p.m.
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I agree with the renters insurance. We have it and only pay 17.00 a month for about 40K coverage. Not only is it good incase of a fire or other house damage, but our insurance also will cover us if a pet bites someone (depends on coverage included) I recomend every renter get it. It is a small price to pay for piece of mind.
May 15, 2008 at 10:01 a.m.
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since they took down the other blogs about the fire I will mention it here to how important it is to have renters insurance. There is so much grief to worry about and this can help in one of those areas. It is also very affordable and SO many renters dont have insurance for their belongings.
May 15, 2008 at 9:34 a.m.
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My daughter attended this yesterday with her class. Although we have always practiced fire drills at home on a regular basis, this activity truly hit home for her. She found it to be very educational. I can't thank the fireman enough for providing this activity to our schools.
May 15, 2008 at 9:21 a.m.
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Very good idea. A little off topic here, but since the Gazette took down the story about the Ashmore/Mattingly fire (BRAVO TO YOU BTW), I was wondering if there is a place that we could post information regarding donations??
May 15, 2008 at 9:09 a.m.
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This really is an important drill to perform once a year if you have young children in the house.
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